Diascia plant named ‘Codi110’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘Codi110’, characterized by its compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; and dark red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Diascia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CODI110’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Codi110’.

The new Diascia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Diascia cultivars with uniform plant habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Diascia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in September, 2001 of a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.54.7, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.54.1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Codi110 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Cobbitty, New South Wales, Australia in October, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Diascia by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Diascia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Codi110 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Codi110’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Codi110’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant         habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Dark red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Diascia are more outwardly spreading than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Diascia have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Diascia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Diascia have darker-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Diascia can be compared to plants of the Diascia×hybrida cultivar Red Ace, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/639,898. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Diascia differed from plants of the cultivar Red Ace in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Diascia were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Red Ace.     -   2. Plants of the new Diascia had larger flowers than plants of         the cultivar Red Ace.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Diascia and the cultivar Red Ace         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Red Ace had         red-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Diascia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Diascia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Codi110’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Codi110’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Encinitas, Calif. in 12.5-cm containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouses during the spring and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C., night temperatures averaged 19° C. and light levels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched twice and were about 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Codi110. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.54.7, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Diascia×hybrida identified as code number X99.54.1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots, summer and winter.—About three weeks             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Compact, upright and somewhat             outwardly spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about ten primary             lateral branches each with potentially two secondary lateral             branches per node.         -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 32 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical with cordate tendencies.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Shallow and irregular serrated.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 147B. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 147C. Fully developed foliage, upper             surface: 146A; venation, 146B. Fully developed foliage,             lower surface: 147C; venation, 147C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 146A. Color, lower surface: 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Single flowers arranged on loose             terminal racemes. Freely flowering habit with usually about             24 open flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers             face upright and outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously             throughout the spring in southern California. Flowers last             about five days on the plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 9 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Shape:             Rounded. Color: 70A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals             modified into two banner petals, two lateral petals with             spurs and a protruding lip petal. Length: Banner petals:             About 8 mm. Lateral petals (including spurs): About 7 mm.             Lower lip petal: About 1 cm. Width: Banner petals: About             5 mm. Lateral petals: About 6 mm. Lower lip petal: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous, satiny. Color: When opening, upper surface: 63A.             When opening, lower surface: 70A. Fully opened, upper             surface: 60A; towards the base, 61A; central eyespot, 11A.             Fully opened, lower surface: 60C; nectar spurs, 59A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped             calyx. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Minute             pubescence. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color: 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Scattered pubescence. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About four.             Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther             color: 10A. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 4 mm. Style length: About             2 mm. Style color: 146C. Stigma appearance: Rounded. Stigma             color: 144B. Ovary color: 146C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Diascia have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 2° C. to about 29° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Diascia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Diascia. 

1. A new and distinct Diascia plant named ‘Codi110’ as illustrated and described. 